Elder Law and Estate Planning Attorney
Whether you have a dog, cat, pig, bird or reptile, pets are members of the family, so it is important to consider how to provide for them in your estate plan just as you would the human family members. While Read More …
Once your child reaches the age of 18 the state considers your child to be an adult with the legal right to govern their own life. While your child is a minor you are entitled to access your child’s medical Read More …
Many websites offer customized, do-it-yourself wills and other estate planning documents. Although such products are convenient, using them could create serious and expensive legal problems for heirs. These digital services appear to offer a cost-effective and easy alternative to visiting an Read More …
There are many unknowns when planning an estate, but you can’t let the uncertainties get in the way of creating any kind of plan. Having an imperfect plan is usually better than having no plan at all. When many of Read More …
As an estate planning attorney who also helps through the probate and estate administration process, we have seen, first hand, the difficulties in dividing belongings. Allocating your personal possessions can be one of the most difficult tasks when creating an Read More …
Unless you’re certain your parents have an up-to-date will, as well as a big-picture plan for what should happen in the event of their passing, you shouldn’t assume everything will be taken care of. During this season of upcoming holidays, Read More …
Litigation over James Brown’s estate has been dragging on for 14 years and can hold key lessons in the importance of having an estate planning attorney prepare clear and concise estate planning documents that hold up in court – especially Read More …
Many types of property and investments pass outside of probate and allow you to designate who will receive them after your death. It is important that these designations are kept up to date and are consistent with the rest of Read More …
Creating and executing estate planning documents is just the first step. Once you have completed the documents, you need to know what to do with them. All estate plans should include, at minimum, two important planning instruments: a durable power Read More …
The coronavirus pandemic is another reminder that life is unpredictable, and it makes sense to be prepared. It may sound self-serving, but the threats to life and finances posed by the pandemic offer ample reason to reevaluate your estate plan Read More …
Even when you’ve taken all the precautions, met with an estate planning attorney and have all your documents and financial planning done, there are several times when you will want to make changes, or at minimum, re-evaluate, your estate plan. Read More …
What do millennial and aging couples have in common? Trends are showing that more older couples are choosing to stay unmarried, despite being in long-term committed relationships. Most married couples understand the importance of estate planning to transfer assets and Read More …
We usually think that inheriting a home, a lake house, a plot of land or any real estate is a wonderful blessing, and it can be. However, without the proper estate planning, inheriting real estate from your parents also has Read More …
At Joseph L. Motta Co. our tagline is “Leave a Legacy, Not a Predicament,” because we truly want to help people to avoid leaving their family a mess to unravel upon death. The passing of a loved one is already Read More …
Congress created the rules governing the minimum distribution of retirement plan funds to encourage saving for retirement and to allow retirement assets to build up tax-free during the plan owner’s working years. But lawmakers built in provisions so the money Read More …
A recent article “Survey: Almost half of Ohio pet owners spend more on pets than partners for Christmas,” got us thinking about pet trusts. It’s a topic we haven’t posted about yet and at Joseph L. Motta Co., we have Read More …
Do you worry your parents don’t have their estate planning in order? Are you unsure how to tactfully approach the subject of wills, trusts, beneficiaries, retirement accounts, living wills, power of attorney, medical power of attorney and long term care Read More …
We know some myths can be fun – think; unicorns, Pegasus, fairies and mermaids. But some myths are scary AND costly. There are many myths about estate planning, and at Joseph L. Motta Co. we hear them all. We understand Read More …
Ideally, when a second marriage joins two families together, it should be a joyous occasion that creates one bigger blended family unit. Unfortunately, when the estate plan lacks clarity, it too often also creates inheritance fights between stepparents and children. Read More …
Many people fear losing their home if they have to enter a nursing home and apply for Medicaid. They believe that they can preserve their home by transferring it to their children prior to applying for Medicaid. Transferring a home Read More …
